With the Indians looking to shed payroll and the Mariners considering tearing things down completely, the Yankees have trade interest in starting pitchers Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and James Paxton, reports Jon Heyman of FanCred, who says the Yankees are meeting with the Indians Tuesday at the GM meetings.
"I'm interested in adding more than one pitcher," GM Brian Cashman said Monday. "I think I need to add multiples. If I can do so, we'll see. ... I'm not going to say who and when but we will make sure we check every box in terms of what's available and the cost associated with what's available in both marketplaces, free agency and trades," Cashman said.
Aside from Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees don't have any certainties in the rotation for 2019 and beyond.
The 32-year-old Kluber, who is under contract through the 2021 season at a total cost of $46.5 million, had a 2.89 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 222 strikeouts in 215.0 innings this past season.
The 31-year-old Carrasco, who is under contract through the 2020 season at a total cost of $19.25 million, had a 3.38 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 231 strikeouts in 192.0 innings this past season.
The 30-year-old Paxton, who made $4.9 million in 2018 and is arbitration-eligible for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, had a 3.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 208 strikeouts in 160.1 innings this past season.
In addition to potential starting pitching upgrades via trade are free agents like Patrick Corbin, Dallas Keuchel, Nathan Eovaldi, and Yusei Kikuchi. Also available on the free agent market are CC Sabathia (who Cashman would like to retain) and J.A. Happ.
